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PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE SENATE OF PENNSYLVANIA 



IN COMMEMORATION OF 



HON. THOMAS B. HARPER, 



LATE A SENATOR 



FROM THE TWELFTH DISTRICT. 



TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1911 



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JAN 22 W3 



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RESOLUTION. 



In the Senate, 
March 8, 1911. 

Resolved (if the House of Representatives concur), 
That one thousand (1,000) copies of the proceedings 
of the memorial services, held in honor of the late 
Honorable Thomas B. Harper, be printed for the use 
of the Senate. 

HARMON M. KEPHART, 
Chief Clerk of the Senate. 

The foregoing- resolution concurred in March 13, 
1911. 

THOMAS H. GARVIN, 
Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives. 

Approved— The 15th day of March, A. D. 1911. 

JOHN K. TENER. 



(3) 




M) 



PROCEEDINGS 
OF THE SENATE OF PENNSYLVANIA 



UPON THE DEATH OF 



HON. THOMAS B. HARPER. 



In the Senate, 
Tuesday, February 21, 1911. 

On motion of Senator Heacock, the following reso- 
lution was twice read, considered and agreed to, viz : 

Resolved, That a committee of eight members of the 
Senate be appointed to draft suitable resohitions on 
the death of the late Senator, Thomas B. Harper, who 
died on May eighteen, one thousand nine hundred and 
ten, and present said resolutions at a special meeting 
to be held on Tuesday afternoon, March seven, at 
three o'clock. 



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MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS AND 
ADDRESSES. 



In the Senate, 
Tuesday, March 7, 1911. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 

The time of recess having elapsed the Senate was 
called to order at three o'clock post meridian, the 
President Pro Tempore, Mr. Crow, in the chair, 

PRAYER. 

Prayer was offered by Reverend Harry Nelson 
Bassler, as follows: 

Heavenly Father, we recognize to-day the strength 
and beauty of Thy promises unto us, when Thou hast 
said, I am the Resurrection and the Life. He that be- 
lieveth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. 

We recognize anew that here below we have no con- 
tinuing city, but that we are traveling to that city 
whose builder and maker is God. Prepare us more 
and more for that day and life. We thank Thee for 
the life — for the association and the companionship 
of our brother. Help us by Thy grace and by Thy sus- 
taining power to appreciate more and more those 
whom God sent into our life. May we exemplify all 
that is true and beautiful and good in them. May we 
perpetuate those virtues that we have found in them. 

(7) 



Memorial Services. 



Those who mourn strengthen, comfort and keep 
them, lead them and us by Thy presence so that when 
life's work is over, and life's race run, we may enter 
that home made by hands eternal in the heavens. We 
ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Mr. HEACOCK. Mr. President, I offer the fol- 
lowing- resolutions : 

RESOLUTIONS. 

Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God to call to 
Him on May 18, 1910, the Honorable Thomas B. 
Harper, the Senator from the Twelfth District, and 

Whereas, His public character and services demand 
prominent commemoration; therefore be it 

Resolved, That the loss to his own community and 
to his many associates is irreparable. The loss to the 
Commonwealth is great, but the greatest of all is to 
his own home, and we, the members of the Senate sur- 
viving, tender our condolence to his family so bereaved 
and direct that a copy of these resolutions, duly en- 
grossed and attested, be forwarded to his widow. 

JOSEPH HEACOCK, 
CHARLES H. KLINE, 
FRANCIS S. McILHENNY, 
FRANK E. BALDWIN, 
OSCAR E. THOMSON, 
THEODORE M. KURTZ, 
EDWIN H. VARE, 
CLARENCE J. BUCKMAN. 
On the question, 

Will the Senate agree to the resolutions? 



Hon. Thomas B. Harper. 



ADDRESSES. 

Mr. HEACOCK. Mr. President, The death of the 
late Senator, Thomas B. Harper, who died on May- 
eighteenth, one thousand nine hundred and ten, has 
been a great loss to the district he represented, and 
coming so suddenly was a great shock to all who knew 
him, for every one was his friend and he was the friend 
of every one. 

I knew Senator Harper from his birth and had pre- 
viously known his parents and grandparents. When 
I was a little boy his father, Charles Harper, kept the 
principal store in Jenkintown and in the house ad- 
joining Thomas Buckman Harper was born. I knew 
him as a child, a young man, and then as a man of 
mature years, and never knew anything of him but to 
his credit. 

Educated in the school of the village he went early 
into his father's store, to which business he later suc- 
ceeded, but was not successful. Facing the future as 
only an American can, he hired a well-drilling machine 
and gave the business his undivided attention. He 
made it a great success and at the time of his death he 
owned a dozen machines and had them at work in all 
parts of the country, by means of which he had 
amassed quite a fortune. 

He married Margaret, only daughter of William 
Bennett Carrell, at the old Carrell homestead at Ivy- 
land, Bucks county, Pa., on October 8, 1879, who, with 
two sons and two daughters, survives him, his son, 
William Carrell Harper, succeeding in his father's 
business. 

Big hearted and generous he was liked by every one. 
For twenty years he had served Grace Presbyterian 
Church as trustee. He was elected a director of the 



10 Memorial Services. 

Jenkintown National Bank, December 14, 1905, and 
served in that capacity until his death. He served 
the borough of Jenkintown as burgess and for many- 
years had been treasurer of the Pioneer Fire Company 
of his native town. 

The Twelfth Senatorial District has been singularly 
unfortunate in having two of its Senators in succession 
claimed by death and, after the death of Senator 
Roberts, Thomas Buckman Harper was elected to fill 
the vacancy. A better selection could not have been 
made, and you members of the Senate know how faith- 
fully he performed his duties, and those of the Senators 
who attended the funeral know how many of his 
friends were there to attend the last sad rites. Taken 
from us in the prime of his life our loss is indeed great, 
but the greatest loss is the irreparable loss to his 
family, who have our sincere sympathy. 

Mr. McILHENNY. Mr. President, I rise to pay a 
brief tribute to the memory of the late Senator from 
Montgomery county. 

Senator Harper's career was so limited in our body 
that I did not grow to know him so well as I would 
have liked. Nevertheless, since he succeeded my 
friend Senator Roberts, and also from the fact that 
Montgomery county and the district I represent border 
each other, I doubtless knew him better and was 
thrown more closely with him than any other of our 
colleagues. 

Such a death brings closely home to us the ever 
recurring riddle of a mysterious Providence. 

While in robust health sudden disease overtook him 
at an age when in the course of nature he might have 
looked forward to many years of active service in this 
Senate. 



Hon. Thomas B. Harper. 11 

He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, 
but like so many of our fellow American citizens who 
have attained prominence in public and private life, 
he climbed the ladder of advancement with no aid but 
his own energy and perseverance. 

His life, although short, yet was distinguished by 
solid success in the conduct of a useful business and by 
an active part in the government and life of his com- 
munity. 

Senator Harper's death is but an example of the 
many changes which have taken place in the Senate 
during the past four years. Only twelve senators who 
were here when I entered the Senate four years ago 
are members to-day. These changes cannot but com- 
pel the thought that at no distant date the career of 
each of us here will likely terminate. How grave the 
responsibility while we are here that we prove true to 
the trusts given by the people of this State to our 
keeping. 

Senator Harper's name is now added to that long 
roll of those who have served here and are now no 
more. 

His manners were simple and unpretentious. His 
relations with the other senators marked by considera- 
tion and kindliness and his public duties performed in 
such a manner as to indicate an earnest desire to serve 
his constituents and this State with fidelity and honor. 

"Sweet is the scene when virtue dies ! 

When sinks a righteous soul to rest, 
How mildly beam the closing eyes, 

How gently heaves the expiring breast. 

Triumphant smiles the victor brow, 
Fanned by some angel's purple wing, 

Where, oh grave! thy victory now? 
And where, insidious death, thy sting? 



12 Memorial Services. 



Its duty done — as sinks the day, 
Light from its load the spirit flies, 

While heaven and earth comhiue to say, 
'Sweet is the scene when virtue dies !' " 

Mr. President, I beg to second the resolutions. 

Mr. BALDWIN. Mr. President, My acquaintance 
Math Senator Harper only dates back to the time of his 
entrance in the Senate in February, 1909. Our seats 
were near together and we became very friendly, and 
I was very fond of him. He had a beautiful person- 
ality, was quiet, modest and unassuming but possessed 
an extremely good knowledge of men and affairs, 
which was a great advantage in his intercourse with 
his fellowmen and as a member of the Senate. He 
was at all times kind, courteous and obliging and never 
missed an opportunity to show his kindness and friend- 
ship to his associates. 

Senator Harper was very attentive to his duties as 
a legislator and Avas always found in his place. It will 
be remembered that he was not elected until February 
16, 1909, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of 
Senator Roberts, but at the time of his death he was 
the candidate of his party for renomination and would 
very surely have become a very prominent member of 
this body. We are very forcibly reminded of the un- 
certainties of life when we realize that within two 
years two Senators from Montgomery county have 
died and three members of our session of 1909. Some 
poet has written these lines : 

"They are slipping away — these sweet, swift years 

Like a leaf on the current cast. 
With never a break in their rapid flow 

We watch them as one by one they go 
Into the beautiful past." 



Hon. Thomas B. Harper. 13 

There are only a few years left to live, 

Shall we waste them in idle strife? 
Shan we trample under our ruthless feet 

Those beautiful blossoms fair and sweet. 
By the dusty ways of life? 

There are only a few swift years — ah, let 

No enrious taunts be heard ; 
Make life's fair pattern of rare design, 

And fill up the measure with love's sweet wine. 
But never an angry word ! 

Strew gladness on the paths of men. 
You will not pass this way again." 

Our departed brother was of a most bright, happy 
and affable disposition and did "strew gladness on the 
paths of men." 

He was a warm-hearted true friend, a loving hus- 
band and father and a good citizen of the highest type. 

"His life was gentle and the elements 

So mix'd in him, that nature might stand up 

And say to all the world, 'This was a man.'" 

I deem it a privilege, Mr. President and fellow- 
Senators, to add on this occasion this hastily prepared 
tribute to his memory. 

And the question recurring, 

Will the Senate agree to the resolutions? 

The yeas and nays were taken and were as follows, 
viz: 

YEAS— 50. 

Adams, Cooper, Hays, Jamison, 

Alexander, DeWitt, Heacock, Jarrett, 

Baldwin, Endsley, Herbst, Jones, 

Buckman, Fox, Homsher, Judson, 

Catlin, Gerberich, Huffman, Keyser, 

Clark, Hall, Hunter, Kline, 



14 



AiGmorUd Services. 



Knapp, 


McNichols 


, Snyder, 


Weingartner, 


Kurtz, 


Miller, 


Sones, 


Wertz , 


Manbeck, 


Morgan , 


Sproul, 


Wilbert, 


Martin, 


Nulty, 


Thomson , 


Wolf, 


McConnell, 


Powell, 


Tustin, 


Crow, 


Mcllhenny, 


Salus, 


Vare , 


Pres. pro tern. 


McNichol , 


Shields, 


Washers , 
NAYS— 0. 





All the Senators having voted '"aye," the resolution 
was unanimously agreed to. 

Mr. TUSTIN. Mr. President, I move that the Sen- 
ate take a recess until four o'clock. 

Mr. FOX. Mr. President, I second the motion. 

The motion was agreed to. 

At three fifty post meridian the Memorial proceed- 
ings were completed and the Senate took a recess 
until four o'clock post meridian. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 209 415 



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